Understanding Chinese Mythology
Eleanor S. MacCormack
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.
Embark on an extraordinary journey through the rich and mystical world of Chinese mythology with "Understanding Chinese Mythology: Explore Enchanting Tales, Divine Beings, and Legendary Adventures." This captivating guide invites you to uncover the ancient stories that have shaped Chinese culture, philosophy, and spirituality for thousands of years. From celestial gods and goddesses to heroic mortals and mythical creatures, this book brings to life the vibrant conections of legends that continue to inspire wonder.
Stroll into timeless tales of creation, love, betrayal, and triumph—stories that reveal the profound connection between humanity and the cosmos. Meet legendary figures like the Jade Emperor, Nuwa, and Sun Wukong, whose adventures reflect universal themes of courage, wisdom, and resilience. Discover how these myths influenced art, literature, festivals, and even modern-day beliefs. Whether you're fascinated by dragons soaring across the skies, intrigued by the balance of yin and yang, or eager to explore the symbolism behind the zodiac, this book offers a treasure trove of knowledge.
Written in an engaging, accessible style, it’s perfect for beginners yet deep enough to captivate seasoned enthusiasts.
Unveil the secrets of China’s storied past, connect with its timeless wisdom, and let these enchanting tales ignite your imagination. Add this essential guide to your collection today—it’s more than just a book; it’s a portal to a magical realm waiting to be explored!
Duration - 18h 18m.
Author - Eleanor S. MacCormack.
Narrator - Digital Voice Madison G.
Published Date - Tuesday, 14 January 2025.
Copyright - © 2025 Eleanor S. MacCormack ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Embark on an extraordinary journey through the rich and mystical world of Chinese mythology with "Understanding Chinese Mythology: Explore Enchanting Tales, Divine Beings, and Legendary Adventures." This captivating guide invites you to uncover the ancient stories that have shaped Chinese culture, philosophy, and spirituality for thousands of years. From celestial gods and goddesses to heroic mortals and mythical creatures, this book brings to life the vibrant conections of legends that continue to inspire wonder. Stroll into timeless tales of creation, love, betrayal, and triumph—stories that reveal the profound connection between humanity and the cosmos. Meet legendary figures like the Jade Emperor, Nuwa, and Sun Wukong, whose adventures reflect universal themes of courage, wisdom, and resilience. Discover how these myths influenced art, literature, festivals, and even modern-day beliefs. Whether you're fascinated by dragons soaring across the skies, intrigued by the balance of yin and yang, or eager to explore the symbolism behind the zodiac, this book offers a treasure trove of knowledge. Written in an engaging, accessible style, it’s perfect for beginners yet deep enough to captivate seasoned enthusiasts. Unveil the secrets of China’s storied past, connect with its timeless wisdom, and let these enchanting tales ignite your imagination. Add this essential guide to your collection today—it’s more than just a book; it’s a portal to a magical realm waiting to be explored! Duration - 18h 18m. Author - Eleanor S. MacCormack. Narrator - Digital Voice Madison G. Published Date - Tuesday, 14 January 2025. Copyright - © 2025 Eleanor S. MacCormack ©.
Language:
English
Chapter 1
Duration:00:03:39
Primordial Chaos and Early Formation
Duration:00:10:25
The Pangu Creation Myth
Duration:00:08:54
The Nüwa Creation Myths
Duration:00:09:08
Alternative Creation Accounts
Duration:00:08:13
Cosmic Structure and Order
Duration:00:19:17
Conclusion
Duration:00:05:09
Chapter 2
Duration:00:00:03
The Celestial Hierarchy - Rulers of Heaven
Duration:00:03:56
The Concept of Tian
Duration:00:05:52
The Jade Emperor
Duration:00:08:21
The Three Pure Ones
Duration:00:08:08
The Queen Mother of the West
Duration:00:08:11
The Celestial Bureaucracy
Duration:00:14:49
Celestial Authority and Cosmic Origins
Duration:00:01:45
Divine Administration and Natural Forces
Duration:00:01:54
Conclusion
Duration:00:06:35
Chapter 3
Duration:00:00:03
Celestial Bodies
Duration:00:00:03
The Sun and Its Deities
Duration:00:05:37
Balance Between Destruction and Necessity
Duration:00:02:54
The Moon and Its Deities
Duration:00:05:40
Cyclical Time and Transformation
Duration:00:02:32
The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions
Duration:00:09:13
The Heart Mansion
Duration:00:02:16
The Five Planets and Five Elements
Duration:00:06:38
Correlative Cosmology
Duration:00:04:10
Significant Constellations
Duration:00:11:09
Astral Phenomena and Omens
Duration:00:10:16
Celestial Hierarchy and Astral Deities
Duration:00:02:01
Astronomical Cycles and Agricultural Practices
Duration:00:02:27
Chapter 4
Duration:00:00:03
Forces of Nature - Elemental Deities and Weather Gods
Duration:00:04:42
The Five Elements and Their Deities
Duration:00:07:20
Thunder and Lightning Deities
Duration:00:06:31
Rain Deities and Dragon Kings
Duration:00:07:42
Wind and Cloud Deities
Duration:00:06:59
Fire Deities
Duration:00:07:30
Mountain and River Gods
Duration:00:09:46
Elemental Deities and Weather Gods
Duration:00:01:41
Agricultural Synchronization
Duration:00:01:41
Chapter 5
Duration:00:00:03
Terrestrial Deities - Gods of the Land and Human Domains
Duration:00:04:52
Agricultural Deities
Duration:00:05:53
Food Security in Chinese Civilization
Duration:00:04:33
Earth Gods and Land Deities
Duration:00:05:25
Community Identity and Local Belonging
Duration:00:04:49
City Gods and Urban Deities
Duration:00:05:41
Urban Governance and Civic Identity
Duration:00:05:06
Household and Domestic Deities
Duration:00:06:49
Family Structure and Values
Duration:00:05:52
Craft and Profession Deities
Duration:00:06:23
Knowledge Transmission and Apprenticeship
Duration:00:06:16
Prosperity and Commerce Deities
Duration:00:10:29
Terrestrial Deities in the Cosmic Order
Duration:00:00:35
The Celestial-Terrestrial Administrative Chain
Duration:00:01:56
Agricultural Deities as Mediators
Duration:00:01:45
Chapter 6
Duration:00:00:03
The Netherworld - Underworld Deities and Afterlife Realms
Duration:00:04:58
The Geography of Diyu
Duration:00:08:00
Yanluo Wang and the Ten Kings
Duration:00:10:40
The Judgment Process
Duration:00:09:07
Underworld Officials and Functionaries
Duration:00:09:46
Ghosts, Spirits, and Ancestors
Duration:00:10:10
Escape and Rebirth
Duration:00:15:38
Chapter 7
Duration:00:00:03
The Immortals - Transcendent Beings and the Quest for Eternity
Duration:00:04:44
The Concept of Xian
Duration:00:06:14
Longevity as Cultural Value
Duration:00:02:22
The Eight Immortals
Duration:00:01:20
Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓)
Duration:00:02:08
Zhongli Quan (鍾離權)
Duration:00:01:32
Zhang Guolao (張果老)
Duration:00:01:22
Han Xiangzi (韓湘子)
Duration:00:01:22
Cao Guojiu (曹國舅)
Duration:00:01:15
Li Tieguai (李鐵拐)
Duration:00:01:27
Lan Caihe (藍采和)
Duration:00:01:10
He Xiangu (何仙姑)
Duration:00:01:16
Diversity of Paths to Spiritual Achievement
Duration:00:02:17
Other Famous Immortals
Duration:00:00:31
Royal Immortals and Divine Teachers
Duration:00:03:03
Historical Figures Transformed into Immortals
Duration:00:02:35
Female Immortals Beyond He Xiangu
Duration:00:02:45
Regional and Ethnic Variations
Duration:00:02:42
Immortals in Literature and Drama
Duration:00:02:33
Pathways to Immortality
Duration:00:00:51
External Alchemy (Waidan)
Duration:00:02:52
Internal Alchemy (Neidan)
Duration:00:03:32
Dietary Approaches to Immortality
Duration:00:02:54
Breathe Control and Meditation Techniques
Duration:00:03:21
Moral Cultivation as Path to Longevity
Duration:00:02:53
The Scientific Basis of Some Practices
Duration:00:02:47
Immortal Realms and Paradises
Duration:00:00:42
Penglai
Duration:00:02:42
The Kunlun Mountains
Duration:00:02:25
The Grotto Heavens and Ten Continents
Duration:00:02:38
Sacred Geography and Physical Access
Duration:00:02:01
Differences from Afterlife Destinations
Duration:00:01:49
Journeys to Immortal Realms in Mythology
Duration:00:02:49
Utopian Thinking in Chinese Culture
Duration:00:02:43
The Peach of Immortality
Duration:00:02:23
Cinnabar and the Elixir Tradition
Duration:00:02:39
Jade
Duration:00:02:27
Lingzhi Mushroom
Duration:00:02:31
The Golden Elixir Tradition
Duration:00:02:41
The Search for Immortality Ingredients
Duration:00:04:44
The Celestial Hierarchy and Immortal Traditions
Duration:00:02:24
Between Immortality and the Afterlife
Duration:00:02:22
Immortals and Legendary Heroes
Duration:00:02:20
Chapter 8
Duration:00:04:37
The Three Sovereigns
Duration:00:11:00
The Five Emperors
Duration:00:09:44
Yu the Great and Flood Control
Duration:00:11:17
Other Culture Heroes
Duration:00:13:44
Legendary Rulership and Political Philosophy
Duration:00:12:52
Historical Perspectives
Duration:00:13:03
Chapter 9
Duration:00:00:03
Folk Heroes and Defenders
Duration:00:04:29
Military Heroes and Legendary Generals
Duration:00:00:05
Defenders of Dynasty and Nation
Duration:00:01:09
Guan Yu
Duration:00:02:11
Yue Fei
Duration:00:01:52
Mu Guiying
Duration:00:02:01
Military Ethics and Martial Virtue
Duration:00:01:56
Monster Slayers and Demon Hunters
Duration:00:00:59
Zhong Kui
Duration:00:01:49
Erlang Shen
Duration:00:01:39
Regional Monster Slayers
Duration:00:01:27
Exorcistic Traditions
Duration:00:02:16
Righteous Outlaws and Social Rebels
Duration:00:01:05
Song Jiang and the Outlaws of the Marsh
Duration:00:02:28
Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
Duration:00:01:33
Noble Robbers in Regional Traditions
Duration:00:01:28
Social Justice Concepts
Duration:00:02:26
Female Heroes and Warrior Women
Duration:00:01:08
Hua Mulan
Duration:00:02:15
The Woman Warriors of the Yang Family
Duration:00:01:48
Fan Lihua
Duration:00:01:23
Women's Roles in Chinese Society
Duration:00:02:31
Local Defender Deities
Duration:00:01:22
The Path from Hero to God
Duration:00:01:54
Regional Variations in Local Protector Cults
Duration:00:02:04
Temple Practices and Community Identity
Duration:00:01:40
Community Identity and Belonging
Duration:00:02:11
Evolution in Literature and Performance
Duration:00:01:16
From Historical Record to Popular Epic
Duration:00:02:22
The Crucial Role of Performance Traditions
Duration:00:02:11
Political and Social Shaping of Heroic Narratives
Duration:00:02:06
Modern Adaptations and Global Spread
Duration:00:02:17
Divine Protectors and Earthly Defenders
Duration:00:02:25
Heroic Defense and Social Order
Duration:00:02:44
Chapter 10
Duration:00:00:02
Adventurers and Questers
Duration:00:04:39
Journey to the West
Duration:00:07:44
Immortality Quests
Duration:00:06:53
Celestial and Underworld Journeys
Duration:00:06:05
Scholarly Seekers
Duration:00:06:12
Quests in Literature and Drama
Duration:00:06:14
Philosophical Dimensions
Duration:00:06:39
Heroes and Immortals
Duration:00:01:39
Quests and Cosmology
Duration:00:01:35
Chapter 11
Duration:00:00:03
Tragic Heroes and Star-Crossed Lovers
Duration:00:06:45
Loyal Ministers and Tragic Officials
Duration:00:10:45
Doomed Rulers and Fallen Dynasties
Duration:00:09:46
Star-Crossed Lovers
Duration:00:12:24
Sacrificial Heroes and Martyrs
Duration:00:10:06
Philosophical Dimensions of Tragedy
Duration:00:09:18
Literary and Artistic Expressions
Duration:00:07:57
Tragic Heroes and Defender Figures
Duration:00:01:47
Star-Crossed Lovers and Immortality Concepts
Duration:00:01:37
Personal Tragedy and Cosmic Order
Duration:00:02:22
Chapter 12
Duration:00:00:02
Spirits and Tricksters
Duration:00:05:28
Fox Spirits
Duration:00:05:39
Gender, Knowledge, and Boundary-Crossing
Duration:00:02:56
Nature Spirits and Transformations
Duration:00:06:58
Animism and Ecological Awareness
Duration:00:02:53
Tricksters and Clever Spirits
Duration:00:06:44
Social Criticism and Moral Flexibility
Duration:00:02:54
Ghost Types and Manifestations
Duration:00:07:42
Death, Memory, and Justice
Duration:00:02:42
Animal Spirits and Shapeshifters
Duration:00:07:29
Human-Animal Relationships
Duration:00:02:37
Human-Spirit Interactions
Duration:00:07:34
Psychological Dimensions of Supernatural Encounters
Duration:00:03:54
Spirits and Cosmic Hierarchies
Duration:00:02:25
Transformation Techniques Across Spirit Types
Duration:00:02:46
Chapter 13
Duration:00:04:02
The Four Symbols
Duration:00:06:34
Directional Symbolism in Chinese Thought
Duration:00:01:32
The Dragon (Long)
Duration:00:08:01
The Dragon as Embodiment of Natural Forces
Duration:00:02:01
Phoenix and Mythical Birds
Duration:00:07:10
Avian Symbolism in Chinese Culture
Duration:00:02:00
Auspicious Hybrid Creatures
Duration:00:07:21
Auspicious Symbolism
Duration:00:02:03
Dangerous and Malevolent Creatures
Duration:00:07:45
Fear and Environmental Dangers
Duration:00:02:03
Creatures in Literature and Art
Duration:00:10:25